Blast furnace tops



July 2, 1963 F. .J. SINES BLAST FURNACE TOPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.4. 1960 Z25 M/Ef M13 ATTORNEY y 1963 F. J. SINES BLAST FURNACE TOPS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1960 I N V EN TOR. FRANCIS J. S/NfiSATTORNEY July 2, 1963 F. J. SINES 3,095,986

BLAST FURNACE TOPS Filed Nov. 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 0C POM/5QINVENTOR. FIQl/VC/S J. SIA/Efi A 7' TORNEY July 2, 1963 F. J. SINESBLAST FURNACE TOPS Filed Nov. 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 was M0 as 066INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,095,986 BLAST FURNACE TOPS Francis J.Sines, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 67,386 9 Claims.(Cl. 2l435) This invention. relates to blast furnace tops and moreparticularly to charging equipment for blast furnace tops. Among thefunctions which a blast furnace top must perform are the sealing ofblast furnace gases so that they cannot escape into the atmosphere andthe distributing of the charge uniformly over the stockline in the stackof the furnace. At present, these functions are performed by thewell-known bell and hopper structure. That structure has certaindisadvantages, however. The bells are large and expensive and requirecomplex equipment for their operation. Also, the construction is suchthat the sealing surfaces are subject to abrasion from the blast furnacegas. Because these bells must be located over the center of the column,the gas from the furnace must be removed by upstakes which are placed atthe periphery of the furnace. The cross-sectional area of these uptakesis therefore limited with the result that the gases must be transmittedat such a high velocity that large dust particles are carried throughthe uptakes. Thus, before the gas is used, the dust must be removed bylarge and expensive dust catchers. My invention alleviates thesedisadvantages by eliminating the bells and hoppers and by placing theuptake above the center of the furnace so that its area may be greatlyincreased. For example, I have found that I can triple the uptake areaand thereby decrease the velocity of the gas to /3 its former value.Because the diameter of the largest sized airborne particle variesapproximately with the square of the gas velocity, a reduction of thevelocity to /3 its former value causes a reduction in the diameter ofthe maximum sized particle to ,4, its former value. Thus, the dustcatcher may be eliminated and the gas washing facilities reduced insize.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide a an improvedblast furnace top which eliminates the usual bell and hopper arrangementand the complicated mechanism necessary for its operation.

Another object is to provide a blast furnace top which has an uptake ofsufiiciently large area to reduce the size of dust particles which arecarried out of the furnace with the blast furnace gases.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross section view of a blast furnace top made inaccordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken on the line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed cross sectional view of my charging hopper andgas seal;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit for the operationof the charging hopper; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit for thedistributor doors used in practicing my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 1indicates the upper part of a conventional blast furnace with thestockline being indicated by the letter L. A steel shell 2 is attachedto the top of furnace 1 in any conventional manner which will preventleakage of gas. The top of the shell 2 is closed and is provided with aconventional bleeder 4. The lower portion of the inside surface of theshell 2 is provided with a wear plate 6 with refractory bricks 8 beingprovided between the shell 2 and the Wear plate 6. The shell 2 isprovided with an opening 10 through which the charge is introduced in amanner to be described hereinafter. The shell 2 also has an opening 12through which the exhaust gases pass to a conventional downcomer 14, andan opening 16 through which dust particles pass to a dust pipe 18. Acylindrical uptake 20 is supported concentrically within the shell 2.The inner surface of the uptake 20 is lined with refractory material 22.The uptake 20 is provided with openings 24 for the release of theexhaust gases. In the annular space between the shell 2 and the uptake20 is a slanted distributor chute 26 formed by an upper ellipticalmember 28 and a lower elliptical member 30. The chute 26 extends throughthe opening 10 and is provided with a dividing structure 32 (FIGURE 2)which is located in the path of flow of the raw materials to divide thecharge equally between the two sides of the chute 26. The lower memberof the chute 26 is provided with four openings 34, 36, 38 and 40 throughwhich the raw materials are discharged. An auxiliary chute 42 is locatedbelow the opening 34 and has openings 43 and 44 therein, the latter ofwhich is diametrically opposite opening 38. An auxiliary chute 46 islocated below the opening 40 and has openings 47 and 48 therein, thelatter of which is diametrically opposite opening 36. The side walls ofthe chutes 26, 42. and 46 are formed by the shell 2 and the uptake 20. Adoor 50 associated with openings 34 and 43 is attached to a shaft 52which is rotated through a gear 54 and a pinion 56 attached to the shaftof a motor 58. In like manner, a door 60 associated with openings 40 and47 is attached to a shaft 62 which is rotated through a gear 64 and apinion 66 attached to the shaft of motor 68. At the top of the chute 26and exterior to the shell 2 is a housing 70 in which a charging hopper72 is arranged to rotate. The charging hopper 72, having a counterweight73, is attached to a shaft 74 which is rotated through a gear 76 drivenby a pinion 78 mounted on the shaft of a motor 80. Rods or bearings 81are mounted on the outside of hopper 72. Supported on the housing 70 aredoors 82 and 84 (FIG- URE 3) which are attached to and rotate withshafts 86 and 88, respectively. C-ounterweights 90 and 92 are mounted onshafts 86 and 88, respectively. The counterweights 90 and 92 are of suchweight and are so positioned that the doors 82 and 84 are normallybiased to closed position. A flange 94 is attached to the housing 70 andis adapted to provide a gas tight seal with door 82 when it is in itsclosed position. A flange 96 is simi larly attached to the housing 70 toprovide a gas tight seal with door 84. A skip bridge 98 and skip car 100are provided for carrying the charge up to the hopper 72. The skip car100 is provided with an arm 102 (FIG- URE 4) which is preferably made ofa flexible material. A relay 104 having a normally open contact 104C anda normally closed contact 104C1 is mounted on the skip bridge and issituated with respect to the arm 102 so that the arm 102 will open thecontact 104C each time the skip car descends but the arm 102 will notaffect the relay 104 on the upward trip of the skip car. One terminal ofthe relay coil 104 is connected to the contact 104C and the otherterminal is connected to ground. A DC. power source 106, 108 has itspositive terminal connected to one terminal of the motor 80 through thecontact 10'4Cl and a normally closed contact 116C of a relay 110. Therelay 110 also has normally closed contact 110C1 and normally opencontacts 110C2, 110C3, 110C4, and 110C5. The negative terminal 108 isconnected to the other terminal of the motor 80 through the contactlltlCl. Normally open switches 112 and 114 are provided for operation bymovement of hopper 72, the switch 112 being closed when the hopper is inits dumping position and the switch 114 being closed when the hopper isin its loading position. The terminal 106 is also connected to the relaycoil 104 through the contact 104C, to relay coil 104 through switch 114and contact 110C2, to relay coil 11!} through the contacts 104C1 and110C5, and to relay coil 110 through switch 112. A normally open switch116 (FIGURE is mounted on the skip bridge 98 so that it will bemomentarily closed by the arm 102 each time the skip car 100 ascends.The positive terminal 118 of a direct current power source is connectedto the coil of a relay 120 through the switch 116. The relay 120 hasnormally open contacts 120C, 120C1 and 120C2. A relay coil 122 isconnected to terminal 118 through contact 128C and has normally opencontacts 122C, 122C1 and 122C2. A relay coil 124 is connected toterminal 118 in series with contacts 120C1 and 122C1 and has normallyopen contacts 124C, 124C1 and 124C2, and normally closed contacts 124C3and 124C4. A relay coil 126 having normally open contacts 126C and 126C1and normally closed contact 126C2 is connected to terminal 118 throughcontacts 126C and 128. The contact 128 is normally closed and will beopened only when the door 60 is in its lowest position due to the actionof an arm 130 which is arranged to rotate with the door 60. Power mayalso be supplied to relay coil 122 through contacts 126C2 and 122C.Power may also be supplied to relay coil 124 through contacts 126C2 and124C. Power may also be supplied to relay coil 126 through contacts120C2, 122C2, and 124C1. Power is supplied to the motor 58 throughnormally open contact 132C of a relay 132. The coil of relay 132 isenergized through contacts 126C2, 122C, 124C4 and 134. The contact 134is normally closed and is opened only when the door 50 is in its highestposition by action of an arm 136 which is arranged to rotate with thedoor 50. Power is supplied to the motor 68 through normally open contact1380 of a relay 138. The coil of relay 138 is energized through contacts124C2 and 140 or through contacts 126C2, 122C, 124C3 and 142. Thecontacts 140 and 142 are normally closed and are opened by the arm 130only when door 60 is at its highest position or intermediate position,respectively. A member 144 is secured to shaft 52 for rotation therewithand is provided with teeth 144A and 144B. A pivoted pawl 146 is arrangedto engage the teeth 144A and 1448 when the door 50 is in its highest andintermediate positions, respectively. An electromagnet 148 is providedto release the pawl 146 from engagement with the teeth 144A and 144B andis energized through contacts 120C2 and 122C2. A member 150 is securedto shaft 62 for rotation therewith and is provided with teeth 150A and15013. A pawl 152 is provided to engage the teeth 150A and 150B and anelectromagnet 154 is arranged to disengage the pawl 152 from the teeth150A and 15013. The electromagnet 154 is energized through the contact126C1.

The operation of my device is as follows:

With the hopper 72 in its upright position (FIGURE 4) it is ready toreceive a charge from the skip car 100 and the door 84 is closed so asto seal in the blast furnace gases. After the skip car 100 has dumpedits load into the hopper 72 it will descend and the arm 102 will opencontact 104C and close contact 104C1. Power will thereby be supplied tothe motor 80 through contacts 104C1, 110C and 110(31 so as to dump thehopper 72. As the hopper 72 rotates the door 82 will close againstflange 94 due to the counterweight 90 before the door 84 begins to openso as to provide a continuous seal between the interior of the furnaceand the atmosphere. When the hopper 72 reache the dumping position thecontact 112 will be closed and the relay coil 110 will be energizedclosing its contacts 110C3 and 11003 so as to reverse the polarity ofthe power supplied to the motor 80 to return the hopper 72 to itsupright position. The relay coil 110 will be locked in through contacts110C5 and 104C1 during this time. When the hopper 72 reaches its uprightposition the contact 114 will close to energize relay coil 104 throughcontacts 114 and 110C2.

This locks in relay 184 through contact 104C, preparing it for the nextcycle of operation and deenergizing relay through the opening of contact104C1.

Assuming that the doors 50 and 60 were in their lowest positions whenthe hopper 70 was being dumped as described above, the charge will passdown through the chute 26 and will fall straight through the openings34, 40, 43 and 47 onto the stockline L in the furnace 1. When the loadedskip car 100 again ascends the skip bridge 98 the arm 102 willmomentarily close the contact 116 (FIG- URE 5) which will momentarilyenergize the relay coil 120. This will energize coil 122 through contact120C and lock it in through the contacts 122C and 126C2. Energization ofcoil 122 will energize coil 132 through contacts 126C2, 122C, 12404, and134, closing its contact 132C to energize motor 58 which will operate tomove the door 50 upwardly. This movement will continue until the arm 136opens the contact 134 at which time the pawl 146 will engage the tooth144A to hold the door St] in its uppermost position. Energization ofcoil 122 will also energize coil 138 through contacts 126C2, 122C,124C3, and 142. closing its contact 138C to energize motor 68 which willoperate to move the door 60 upwardly. This movement will continue untilthe contact 142 is opened by the arm at which time the pawl 152 willengage the tooth 1508 to hold the door 60 in its intermediate positionwhich closes opening 47. With the doors 50 and 60 positioned as aboveindicated, the charge dumped into the chute 26 will fall onto thestockline L through the openings 36 and 48. When the skip car 100 againascends, the momentary operation of relay 120 through contact 116 willmomentarily energize the electromagnet 148 through contacts 120C2 and122C2 so as to disengage the pawl 146 from the tooth 144A. Thisdisengagement is only momentary so that the pawl 146 will engage thetooth 1448 and stop the door 50 in its intermediate position so as toclose opening 43. The momentary operation of relay 120 will alsoenergize coil 124 through the contacts 12tiC1 and 122C1 and the relay124 will be locked in through the contacts 124C and 126C2. Energizationof relay 124 energizes relay 138 through contacts 124C2 and therebyclosing contact 138C to connect power to the motor 68. This causes door60 to rotate upwardly until the contact 140 is opened by the arm 130 atwhich time the pawl 152 will engage tooth A and hold the door 60 in itsuppermost position. With the doors 50 and 60 so positioned the nextcharge dumped into the chute 26 will fall through openings 44 and 38 tothe stockline L. As the skip car again ascends and the contact 116 ismomentarily closed, power is momentarily connected to electromagnet 148through contacts 120C2 and 122C2 and the pawl 146 is raised so as topermit the door 50 to return to its lowest position. Power is alsoconnected to relay coil 126 through contacts 120C2, 122C2, and 124C1 andthe relay 126 is locked in through the contacts 128 and 126C. Theoperation of relay 126 opens the contact 126C2 through which the relays122 and 124 were locked in with the result that those relays aredeenergized. Power is also connected to electromagnet 154 throughcontact 126C1 and the pawl 152 is disengaged from tooth 150A. The door60' falls by gravity to its lowest position and when it reaches thatposition the contact 128 is opened by the arm 130 with the result thatthe relay 126 is deenergized. The system is now restored to its originalcondition and is ready for another cycle of operation. Thus it is seenthat each charge is distributed through a dilferent pair of openings sothat the burden will be distributed uniformly in the furnace. As eachload is charged into the furnace the gas loss will be a minimum becauseonly one of the doors 82 and 84 will be open at any one time.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. in a blast furnace an outer shell mounted on top of said furnace andextending upwardly therefrom, an inner shell arranged concentricallywithin said outer shell above the stock line of the furnace and arrangedfor conveying exhaust gases therethrough, a first chute slantingdownwardly around said inner shell within said outer shell, said chutehaving a plurality of openings therein for discharging materialtherefrom, a second chute slanting downwardly from one of said openingsaround said inner shell, said second chute having at least one openingtherein for discharging material therefrom, means to selectably close atleast one of said openings, and means for conveying raw materialsthrough the said outer shell to said first chute.

2. In a blast furnace an outer shell mounted on top of said furnace andextending upwardly therefrom, an inner shell arranged concentricallywithin said outer shell and arranged for conveying exhaust gasestherethrough, a first chute slanting downwardly around said inner shellwithin said outer shell, said first chute including first and secondportions extending peripherally around said inner shell and disposed onopposite sides thereof. said chute having a pair of openings therein oneat each side of the bottom thereof and a second pair of openings thereinone at each side of said inner shell substantially half way down thelength thereof, a second chute slanting downwardly from the second pairof openings around said inner shell, said second chute having an openingtherein under each of said second pair of openings, a door associatedwith each of said second pair of openings and the opening therebe heath,said doors being adapted to close either of its associated openings,said second chute having a pair of openings therein one at each side ofthe bottom thereof, and means for conveying raw materials through thesaid outer shell to said first chute.

3. In a blast furnace according to claim 1 in which said conveying meansincludes a housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere andan opening into said first chute, a charging hopper mounted in saidhousing for movement about a generally horizontal axis, means for movingsaid hopper between a position wholly within said housing and a positionat least partially outside said housing, a first door normally closingthe opening to the atmosphere and movable outwardly from said housing,and a second door within said housing on the furnace side of saidhopper, said second door closing the opening toward the inside of thefurnace when said hopper is at least partially out of said hood.

4. In a blast furnace an outer shell mounted on top of said furnace andextending upwardly therefrom, an inner shell arranged concentricallywithin said outer shell and arranged for conveying exhaust gasestherethrough, means located in the space between said outer shell andsaid inner shell for distributing raw materials about the periphery ofthe space, means for conveying raw materials through the said outershell to said distributing means so arranged as to reduce to a minimumthe passage of blast furnace gases through said outer shell. saiddistributing means including a lower substantially annular member and anupper substantially annular member spaced vertically with respect to oneanother and with respect to said inner and outer shells to form aslanted chute, means for equally dividing the flow of raw materials fromsaid conveying means, said lower annular member having a first openinglocated at a point approximately 90 around said annular member from saiddividing means, a second opening located at a point approximately 180from said first opening, a third opening located between said first andsecond openings and approximately 60 from said second opening, and afourth opening located between said first and second openings andapproximately 60 from said first opening, a first door for closing saidfirst opening, a second door for closing said second opening, a firstmotor for operating said first door, a second motor for operating saidsecond door, a slanted chute communicating from said first opening to apoint approximately from said third opening, and a slanted chutecommunicating from said second opening to a point approximately 180 fromsaid fourth opening.

5. In a blast furnace according to claim 4 in which said conveying meansincludes a housing, said housing having an opening to the atmosphere andan opening into said distributing means, a charging hopper mounted insaid housing for movement about a generally horizontal axis, means formoving said hopper between a position wholly within said housing and aposition at least partially outside said housing, a first door normallyclosing the opening to the atmosphere and movable outwardly from saidhousing, and a second door within said housing on the furnace side ofsaid hopper, said second door closing the opening toward the inside ofthe furnace when said hopper is at least partially out of said housing.

6. In a blast furnace the improvement which comprises, a stationaryouter shell mounted on top of the furnace, a stationary inner shelldisposed within said outer shell terminating at a gas entry openingabove the stock line of the furnace, means to exhaust gas from the innershell, and distributing means including at least one stationary chutebetween said shells to receive and distribute raw material in thefurnace.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the chute has a plurality of openingstherein communicating with the furnace.

8. The device of claim 7 further characterized by means adapted to closeat least one of said openings whereby to regulate the discharge ofmaterial from said chute.

9. In a blast furnace an outer shell of substantially circular crosssection mounted on top of said furnace and extending upwardly therefrom,an inner shell substantially concentric with said outer shell andlocated above the stock line of the furnace, means for distributing rawmaterials located in the annular space between said shells, saiddistributing means including a chute having a plurality of openingsthrough which the raw materials fall onto the stock line of the furnace,means for conveying raw materials to said distributing, means, saidconveying means including a housing having an opening to the atmosphereand an opening into said chute, a charging hopper mounted in saidhousing for movement about a generally horizontal axis, means for movingsaid hopper between a position wholly within said housing and a positionat least partially outside said housing, a first door normally closingthe opening to the atmosphere and movable outwardly from said housing,and a second door within said housing on the furnace side of thehousing, said second door closing the opening toward the inside of thefurnace when said hopper is at least partially out of said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS910,233 Roberts Jan. 19, 1909 1,301,370 Brennan Apr. 22, 1919 1,724,402Holden Aug. 13, 1929 2,814,478 Van Loon Nov. 26, 1957

1. IN A BLAST FURNACE AN OUTER SHELL MOUNTED ON TOP OF SAID FURNACE ANDEXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AN INNER SHELL ARRANGED CONCENTRICALLYWITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL ABOVE THE STOCK LINE OF THE FURNACE AND ARRANGEDFOR CONVEYING EXHAUST GASES THERETHROUGH, A FIRST CHUTE SLANTINGDOWNWARDLY AROUND SAID INNER SHELL WITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL, SAID CHUTEHAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN FOR DISCHARGING MATERIALTHEREFROM, A SECOND CHUTE SLANTING DOWNWARDLY FROM ONE OF SAID OPENINGSAROUND SAID INNER SHELL, SAID SECOND CHUTE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENINGTHEREIN FOR DISCHARGING MATERIAL THEREFROM, MEANS TO SELECTABLY CLOSE ATLEAST ONE, OF SAID OPENINGS, AND MEANS FOR CONVEYING RAW MATERIALSTHROUGH THE SAID OUTER SHELL TO SAID FIRST CHUTE.